Except, I don't think it is reasonable to expect TDs for each gun and missile type. Amarr typically gets the fewest mids, even on the ewar boats. But certainly a turret TD mod and a missile TD mod appear to be being considered. The idea of a general purpose TD mod with an even weaker effect is a worthy concept to consider.

I have no doubt there are all kinds of people theory crafting in hopes to find the new FOTM fleet ship that does everything and all the pilot has to do is press F1 to be effective. There are those screaming that the Drake is now worthless, but the fact is it will still be a solid ship. It just will require some higher piloting skill to achieve that.

Some poeple maybe don't want to expend effort to debunk the flaws in the quoted post. Oh well, here goes,

What point is it to compare weapons without ship bonuses for those weapons. They simply don't get fit without the ship bonuses.
An all level 5 skilled character, for ease of comparison only since we all know most people usually train spec skills to 4, tech II high damage ammo, and no damage mods (just the guns man) can do the following with a
7 x HBL II Gleam Harby - 323 dps (7.5 optimal) (1395 volley)
7 x 250mm Rail II Javelin Brutix - 298 dps (9.0 optimal) (1406 volley)
6 x 720mm Arty II Quake Hurricane - 281 dps (7.5 optimal) (3177 volley)
7 x HML II Fury Drake - 271dps (75.9 optimal -> realistic 72km range) (2310 volley)

Notice the big diference the guns less than 10km (not 40km) and the missiles 70+km. You are comparing very short range performance against a weapon system built for range and it still is competitive. BUT, then plug in the long range tech II ammo and
Harby 184 dps, 54 optimal, 787 volley
Brutix 170 dps, 65 optimal, 804 volley
Cane 161 dps, 54 optimal, 1815 volley
Drake 271 dps, 70+ optimal, 2310 volley still

And yes most people fight in gangs, small or large, with tackle distributed. Drakes often are shooting past 40km in those situations. Regardless, the turret ships have to be within scram and web range to apply their slight dps advantage with short range ammo. The Drake wins at anything over about 10-12km well within a boosted point range at around 25-30km. The travel time at those distances will mean squat. If those turret ships are fitting an armor tank they won't be catching the Drake, and if shield fit it is flimsy and probably around half the Drake's tank.

Now some of this ignores the use of TEs or TCs but those things compete with damage mods, tackle, or tank and other things a short range ship needs to do it's job. But it was your example.

Firewalling is only really ever used in blobs. It is not always effective, and even when it is it's not like some manuvering can't get the missile stream around the wall. Firewalling was a suboptimal strategy bourne of the lack of a dedicated anti-missile ewar in the game. It will quite possibly be gone once TDs start affecting missiles as well as turrets.

And in case you missed it it is not only TDs that will have a missile effect it will also be TEs and TCs. Welcome to the wonderful world of ftting choices. A world that has been heretofore only inhabited by turret boats.

Instant damage does not matter unless you are in a mixed gang and seeking killmail glory. And even there look at the drone boat. He's waiting longer for his weapons to reach the target (and don't mention sentries for pvp with a straight face for anything other than gate or station camping). In a fleet action travel time doesn't matter for a missile fleet because the bubbles or Lach/Hugi combo are your tackle. Everyone's missiles will be traveling.

And notice the volley on the Drake at 70km v the Cane at 70km.

I think you need to get some experience with guns. I've got experience with both weapons. Do you? Training specs on 3 types of guns at all sizes and missiles at all sizes is a *****, but once you are there you notice these things. It gives you more of a perspective on the game than just oh boo hoo they're nerfing the weapon system I use.

Why bother? he clearly didn't read the op. i mean just look at his last sentance.

Which is a solution CCP Fozzie has already stated they are considering. Here's hoping the answer is yes.

Yes there is a substantive reason. It's called "balance".

Hmmm.

Cut Missile Distance like this.

* Standard 20km
* Heavy 40km
* Cruise 80km

Then remove Precision Missiles all together. Change them to Javelin Missiles with lower Dmg at the Following Ranges.

* Standard 30km
* Heavy 60km
* Cruise 120km

Now add in ships that get a 10% Velocity Bonus and it looks like this.

T1 / Faction

* Standard 30km
* Heavy 60km
* Cruise 120km

T2 Javelin

* Standard 45km
* Heavy 90km
* Cruise 180km

Add in a 10% Velocity Bonus on T2 Tracking Mods and whatever works for tracking scripts and you are left with a reasonably good set of weapons once Cruise Missile Ships are balanced. Cut Heavy Dmg by about 5-7.5%. The Tengu gets it's 7.5% RoF and 5% Kin Dmg bonus turned into a 10% Rof Bonus which cuts the Kin part so PvE'ers are mostly happy. Change the Drakes Kin Dmg to RoF then decide if the Drake keeps its Tank Bonus and has half its range cut or gets Velocity Bonus and keeps a good amount of range.

Then any other Medium LR weapons like Med Beams, Med Rails that fall short of this, handle the problem with both their ship stats (Tier Removal Base Stat Changes / Bonus Changes) and the Weapons Fitting / Stats themselves. At that point the Dmg would be mostly balanced and more Medium LR Weapons and the ships that use them making them better in the mid range role with good Dmg (35-60KM) while having an option to strike further (70-100ish KM) for less Dmg.